Republicans' campaign accounts could get bi-annual infusions of cash from Gov. Rauner. The former private equity investor's personal wealth hasn't just fueled his own political ambitions; he's given heartily to the state Republican Party and to GOP legislators.

A Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting analysis of the USDA data found that Monsanto has been responsible for introducing 37 different genetically engineered seeds approved by the USDA. That number is about one-third of all USDA-approved GMOs. Most of those approved seeds have been for corn, soybean and cotton.

Paris Community Hospital in Edgar County is the latest small hospital to join a lineup of small downstate facilities that are coordinating their care with the larger Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Political analyst Christopher Mooney says inaction on taxes, pensions and other financial issues paved the way, but he says the current standoff is as much about political personalities as it is policy.

The drugs are injected into the mouse’s brain through a soft, flexible filament about the diameter of a human hair. The rest of the device is mounted on the mouse’s head, so it’s small — about the size of a Lego block — and weighs less than 2 grams.

As a candidate last year, Rauner talked a lot about term limits. Now that he's governor, he's pushing for lawmakers to sign on. The governor often repeats his goal of removing power from what he calls the "political class" -- in particular from, House Speaker Michael Madigan whom he charges "controls" legislators.